86 . 
exclusive French fishery,—suppose such a state of affairs, we say, | 
and then ask whether the manifest unfairness of it would not | 
demand at the hands of the British Government such prompt — 
and effective action as would confine the French to the exercise 
only of those rights which they could clearly and unmistakeably 
prove to have been accorded to them by the treaties. 
Practically, the position we have supposed as possible is 
to-day existent. The bounties given by the French nation to — 
French fishermen would make competition with them upon — 
the Banks by Newfoundlanders impossible unless their supply © 
of bait could be prohibited or curtailed, and this prohibition at 
least is made difficult by the exercise of the French claim to take 
bait fishes upon the coasts of Newfoundland upon which they have 
treaty rights, and to use them in the Bank fishery. In sucha © 
dire emergency the people of Newfoundland turn to the Govern- — 
ment of Great Britain, and to the people of Great Britain, and © 
they ask that the French shall, at the very least, be strictly con- — 
fined within the meaning of the treaties, that they shall not be 
permitted to exercise old rights in new ways, and that new rights — 
shall not be conceded to them. Newfoundland does not ask 
favours in this matter, she does not seek offensive protective 
regulations, but she seeks defensive measures—she points to the 
unfair bounty-fed competition of a wealthy and powerful nation, 
and she appeals for fair play, for “fair trade,” for a chance to — 
“live” as well as “ let live.” | 
CHAPTER V. 
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION, 
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS. 
Having endeavoured to place before the public, as briefly as 
a due regard to the vital importance of the subject will permit, 
a statement of the facts connected with the origin and history of 
these French treaties and questions, of the present position of 
these facts and questions, and of the views of the colonists in 
relation to them, we believe that it will be convenient here to 
